2.29.2016

Also, a very happy Birthday to any reader celebrating today - ensure you put yourself whole-heartedly into today's cake-day as you will not see another one for four years.

Anywhoos, there was an interesting teaser from MaRo on the 27th, with this just cryptic message.

As promised, WotC delivered the announcement to the next From the Vault set, to be hitting a gaming store shelf near you in August. From the Vault is a series of box sets, released by Wizards of the Coast on an annual basis in late August. Each box set contains 15 tournament-legal, black-bordered, holographic foil cards with a common theme. This year's theme is explained in the official announcement over here on the mothersite.

From the Vault: Lore

Delve deeper into the events that shaped the Multiverse - and show your opponents that those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it! This limited-edition set includes cards from throughout Magic's history that are renowned for both their power and the stories behind them. Surprise your foes with blasts from the past they'll have to see to believe.

Contents and Details:

• Fifteen premium foil cards and one token, including three with new art.• An exclusive Spindown life counter.• A collector's guide.• Each card has been printed using a foil process unique to the From the Vault series.• From the Vault: Lore will be available worldwide in English only, and will have an extremely limited print run.• All cards are black-bordered and tournament-legal. This means that these cards are legal for use in any tournaments where the original printings are still legal.

Use the hashtag #FTVLORE to discuss this product on Twitter!Product Concept and Development: Sam Stoddard and Jeremy Jarvis, with contributions from Mark Purvis.Release Date: August 19, 2016Magic Online Release Date: October 10, 2016MSRP: $34.99

Well that is rather exciting. Let's get straight to dissecting and then some speculation !

First - the indication is that there is to be only three rather than six new arts as was the case in the most recent FTV sets. Limited print run is the same story, so expect to purchase from retailers at a greatly increased price.

The preview art provided in most likely that of Momir Vig, Simic Visionary. In face, we will say pretty much 100% certain - compare what the greenish fella is wearing -

As for speculation on the other cards, we do have this from the announcement - "renowned for both their power and the stories behind them". We would expect a card with a solid showing in the Magic Fiction section of the mothersite - perhaps a card like Azusa, Lost but Seeking, for which there was an possibly leaked art some time ago -

The other bit is that there is one token card included in this From the Vault. There are several prominent ones which come to mind such as Tuttuk the Returned, but here are our guesses - Dark Depths, Helm of Kaldra and Tolsimir Wolfbood. What are your guesses on tokens and other cards for From the Vault: Lore ?